Somewhere in the Mariners-to-Sounders game conversion last night on FSN, I thought I heard that Bryan LaHair had been selected for the MILB All-Star team. A check of the Rainiers site shows that there wasn’t anything wrong with my hearing. LaHair seems to have fallen off the radar locally just in general, I’m guessing mainly because they’ve been keeping him as a first baseman, and we already have a first baseman who is more than earning his keep. LaHair was not well-liked by fans last year as far as I can tell, and I figured he’d go quietly into oblivion or be traded, or both. Not quite so. A quick look at his FanGraphs page shows a .283 hitter with an .849 OPS, a .508 SLG, .341 OBP and 13 HR in 240 ABs so far this year (I actually have a grasp of what all that stuff means, too; lookit the big brain on me!) Not too shabby. I guess I’ve been at all his bad games. I’m not in a particular hurry to have him back in SafeCo just yet (he doesn’t seem to be on anyone’s radar, either), but I always like seeing anyone associated with the big club do well. A lot of those guys were forced up here far too early last year because we didn’t have a choice, so it’s nice to see them doing well in a more appropriate setting for their current skill level. And good for Shelton, who also made the team. We’re neck-deep in first base guys. September call-ups should be interesting.
Dave at USSM put up an interesting article on the possibility of trying to get some value for Mark Lowe. As a fan, I would hate to see Lowe go; even though he’s still on notice (which seems to be working, for the most part, as far as I can tell), and would very much like to see that change-up come back if possible. I also feel that Mr Cameron far underestimates the value of a good gladiator helmet.
Some friends are humoring me (I kid, some of them actually do want to go) and we’re all going in on a group ticket purchase for the DVD night on the 10th. I don’t know why I’m so fixated on that – then again, it’s a pretty good promotional. Left field bleachers to see the Rangers, but I figure if we start losing, it will just give me a better opportunity to get some bullpen photos, and it will certainly be a different view of the field, one I haven’t had so far this year.
I’m clock-watching at work something fierce; it’s not helping the day go by any faster. I am also vaguely looking forward to the inevitable sweep tonight. I have nothing metric-y to back this up, but putting Jason Vargas up against CC Sabathia feels like sending a 4-year-old armed with cotton balls out to fight the Predator. I have resigned myself to a loss already. Beer, meat, and explosions should dull the pain.
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LaHair is basically Wlad with worse OF defense……kills AAA pitching….but when someone throws something that isnt straight and fast and Major league quality…..the only thing ya hear is “woooooosssh” or “strike 3, yer out”
I understand what ya mean, with a fondness for any player who has donned the Mariners uniform and is doing well……I always think of them as “Mariners first”…..
Doesn’t every player that plays for the M’s get a Teal and Blue Blood transfusion that last them for a lifetime?
Yeah – it occurred to me that I don’t fully understand defense stats yet. :p
And I think the blue and teal blood transfusion probably looks like that ice cream they sell on the terrace level. lol